Manchester United welcome teesside promotion pushing Middlesbrough in an attempt to proceed to the next round of the Emirates FA Cup. Boro themselves beat Mansfield Town in round three 3-2, an own goal in stoppage time allowing Chris Wilder's men to progress, whilst Man United overcame Aston Villa 1-0, a solitary goal by Scott McTominay getting the Red Devils over the line into the next round.
The Red Devils record against Middlesbrough is a healthy one in all competitions. In the last game at Old Trafford in the Premier League, United were a class above beating Boro 2-1. Goals from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba securing the three points. The last time United lost to the teesside club in a cup competition was in 2015 in the League Cup, Middlesbrough winning 3-1 on penalties under the lights causing a massive upset.
Over the course of the last decade of recent, the meeting between both sides shows United have only lost six times out of 28 meetings. last losing in the Emirates FA Cup to Middlesbrough away at the Riverside Stadium in 2002.
Man United are the second most successful side in the history of the FA Cup, winning the competition on 12 occasions, the last of which was in 2016, while they lost in the quarter-finals to Leicester City last season and Chelsea in the semi-finals of the 2019-2020 campaign.
Below is all you need to know ahead of the contest.
-
What team will Ralph Rangnick pick?
Man United interim head coach Rangnick has said that Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw will both be involved on Friday following spells out, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be available following a period on the sidelines through illness.
Jadon Sancho should be included in the squad following personal issues, but Edinson Cavani will not feature due to his involvement for Uruguay over the international break, while Victor Lindelof has an illness and Eric Bailly is still with an ankle injury. Jesse Lingard has a personal issue and is out of the contest too.
Mason Greenwood has been suspended by the club and will not be involved for the foreseeable future, so Marcus Rashford could feature on the right, while Nemanja Matic and Anthony Elanga should both start. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start for the Red Devils, while David De Gea could retain his spot between the sticks despite the presence of Dean Henderson, who has hardly been involved this term.
As for Boro, new signing Riley McGree has tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty with Australia, so he will not be involved in this match. Sammy Ameobi, Darnell Fisher and Marc Bola, remain on the sidelines, while James Lea Siliki is still on international duty, but on loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is expected to make his first start for the club.
Wilder is likely to select a strong side at Old Trafford, with Andraz Sporar potential joining Balogun in the final third of the field, but the likes of Duncan Watmore, Lee Peltier and Martin Payero will also be hoping to be given minutes in the FA Cup contest.
-
Predicted lineups
Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, Matic, McTominay, Rashford, Fernandes, Elanga, Ronaldo.
Middlesbrough: Lumley; McNair, Bamba, Fry, Jones, Howson, Crooks, Tavernier, Taylor, Sporar, Balogun.